show feature
Displays the status of all licensed and unlicensed features on the Cisco Nexus switch, including whether each feature is enabled or disabled.
Overview
The 'show feature' command is a fundamental diagnostic tool on Cisco Nexus switches running NX-OS. It provides a comprehensive list of all software features available on the device, along with their current operational state and licensing status. Unlike Cisco IOS where many features are enabled by default, NX-OS adopts a modular architecture where features must be explicitly enabled using the 'feature <name>' command. This design improves security and resource utilization by only loading the necessary processes.
The command is essential for network engineers during initial setup, troubleshooting, and audits. Before configuring any advanced feature such as OSPF, BGP, VPC, or FabricPath, you must first verify that the feature is enabled. If you attempt to configure a disabled feature, the switch will reject the commands with an error message like '% Invalid command'. The 'show feature' output quickly reveals whether the feature is enabled or disabled, and whether a license is installed.
On Nexus platforms, licensing is tied to specific features. Some features (e.g., OSPF, BGP, VPC) require a license on certain models, while others (e.g., SSH, Telnet, LLDP) are included in the base system. The License Status column indicates if the feature is 'licensed' (proper license installed) or 'unlicensed' (no license or evaluation period expired). An unlicensed feature cannot be enabled until a valid license is installed. The command also helps in troubleshooting scenarios where a feature suddenly stops working; checking 'show feature' can reveal if the feature has been accidentally disabled or if the license has expired.
In troubleshooting workflows, 'show feature' is often the first step when a feature-related command fails. For example, if a user cannot configure BGP, running 'show feature' may show BGP as disabled. The engineer can then enable it with 'feature bgp'. If the feature is unlicensed, the engineer must install a license. The command also supports output filters (begin, exclude, include) to narrow down results, making it efficient for large feature lists. Overall, 'show feature' is a quick, indispensable command for managing feature states on Nexus switches.
show feature [ | {begin | exclude | include} <expression> ]When to Use This Command
- Verify that a required feature (e.g., OSPF, BGP, VPC) is enabled before configuring it.
- Troubleshoot why a feature command is not recognized or fails to execute.
- Audit the feature state across multiple Nexus switches for compliance or consistency.
- Quickly check if a feature license is installed and the feature is operational.
Parameters
| Parameter | Syntax | Description |
|---|---|---|
| | (pipe) | | {begin | exclude | include} <expression> | Filters the output. 'begin' starts output from the line matching the expression. 'exclude' omits lines containing the expression. 'include' shows only lines containing the expression. Useful for narrowing down to specific features or states. |
Command Examples
Basic show feature output
show featureFeature Name Instance State License Status ------------------------------------------------------ bfd 1 enabled licensed bgp 1 enabled licensed eigrp 1 disabled unlicensed fabricpath 1 enabled licensed hsrp_engine 1 enabled licensed interface-vlan 1 enabled licensed isis 1 disabled unlicensed lacp 1 enabled licensed lldp 1 enabled licensed mpls 1 disabled unlicensed msdp 1 disabled unlicensed mst 1 enabled licensed nat 1 disabled unlicensed netflow 1 enabled licensed nve 1 disabled unlicensed nv overlay 1 disabled unlicensed ospf 1 enabled licensed ospfv3 1 disabled unlicensed pim 1 enabled licensed pim6 1 disabled unlicensed port-security 1 enabled licensed ptp 1 disabled unlicensed rip 1 disabled unlicensed sla_sender 1 disabled unlicensed sla_responder 1 disabled unlicensed ssh 1 enabled licensed stp 1 enabled licensed tacacs+ 1 enabled licensed telnet 1 enabled licensed udld 1 enabled licensed vpc 1 enabled licensed vrrp 1 disabled unlicensed vtp 1 disabled unlicensed
Each row shows a feature name, its instance number (usually 1), current state (enabled/disabled), and license status (licensed/unlicensed). Enabled features are active and ready for configuration; disabled features are not running. Licensed status indicates the feature is licensed; unlicensed means no license is installed.
Filter output to show only enabled features
show feature | include enabledbfd 1 enabled licensed bgp 1 enabled licensed fabricpath 1 enabled licensed hsrp_engine 1 enabled licensed interface-vlan 1 enabled licensed lacp 1 enabled licensed lldp 1 enabled licensed mst 1 enabled licensed netflow 1 enabled licensed ospf 1 enabled licensed pim 1 enabled licensed port-security 1 enabled licensed ssh 1 enabled licensed stp 1 enabled licensed tacacs+ 1 enabled licensed telnet 1 enabled licensed udld 1 enabled licensed vpc 1 enabled licensed
Using the 'include enabled' filter shows only features that are currently enabled. This is useful for a quick summary of active features.
Understanding the Output
The 'show feature' command output is a table with four columns: Feature Name, Instance, State, and License Status. The Feature Name column lists all features available on the Nexus switch, including both licensed and unlicensed ones. The Instance column typically shows '1' as most features run in a single instance. The State column indicates whether the feature is currently enabled (running) or disabled (not running). The License Status column shows whether the feature is licensed (proper license installed) or unlicensed (no license or evaluation period expired). A healthy output shows required features in 'enabled' state with 'licensed' status. Problematic values include 'disabled' for features you need to use, or 'unlicensed' for features that require a license but have none. For example, if OSPF is disabled, you cannot configure OSPF until you enable it with 'feature ospf'. If a feature shows 'unlicensed', you must install the appropriate license before enabling it. Some features like 'telnet' and 'ssh' are always available without a license. The output helps quickly identify which features are ready for configuration and which need attention.
Configuration Scenarios
Enabling OSPF after verifying it is disabled
A network engineer needs to configure OSPF on a Nexus switch but receives an error when entering OSPF commands.
Topology
N/ASteps
- 1.Run 'show feature' to check OSPF status.
- 2.If OSPF is disabled, enable it with 'configure terminal' then 'feature ospf'.
- 3.Verify OSPF is now enabled with 'show feature | include ospf'.
! Enter configuration mode configure terminal ! Enable OSPF feature feature ospf ! Exit and verify end show feature | include ospf
Verify: The output should show 'ospf 1 enabled licensed'.
Watch out: If OSPF shows 'unlicensed', you must install an OSPF license first. On some Nexus models, OSPF is included in the base license, but on others it requires a separate license.
Troubleshooting with This Command
When troubleshooting feature-related issues on Cisco Nexus, 'show feature' is the starting point. If a feature command is rejected, the most common cause is that the feature is disabled. For example, if you try to configure 'router ospf 1' and get '% Invalid command at '^' marker', run 'show feature' to check if OSPF is enabled. If it shows 'disabled', enter configuration mode and issue 'feature ospf'. After enabling, retry the configuration.
Another scenario is when a feature was working but suddenly stops. Check 'show feature' to see if the state changed to 'disabled' or if the license status changed to 'unlicensed'. A license may have expired or been removed. In that case, install a new license using 'license install <file>' and then enable the feature again.
If a feature shows 'enabled' but still does not work correctly, the issue may be in the feature's configuration rather than the feature state. However, 'show feature' can still help by confirming the feature is running. For features that have multiple instances (rare), the instance number can help identify which instance is problematic. Use the 'include' filter to quickly check specific features, e.g., 'show feature | include bgp'. This command is also useful when comparing configurations across multiple switches; you can script 'show feature' to ensure consistent feature states in a data center environment.
CCNA Exam Tips
Remember that on Nexus, features must be explicitly enabled with the 'feature <name>' command before configuration; 'show feature' verifies this.
In CCNP Data Center exams, be able to distinguish between licensed and unlicensed features; some features like OSPF and BGP require licenses on certain Nexus platforms.
Use the 'show feature | include disabled' filter to quickly find features that are not running, which may be the root cause of configuration failures.
Common Mistakes
Assuming a feature is enabled because it appears in the output; the State column must show 'enabled'.
Forgetting that some features require a license; if License Status is 'unlicensed', the feature cannot be enabled even with the 'feature' command.
Confusing 'show feature' with 'show running-config | include feature'; the latter shows only enabled features in the config, not all available features.
Platform Notes
On Cisco Nexus switches running NX-OS, the 'show feature' command is consistent across all Nexus platforms (e.g., 3000, 5000, 7000, 9000 series). However, the list of available features varies by platform and software version. For example, FabricPath is available on Nexus 7000 and 7700, while VXLAN/EVPN features appear on Nexus 9000. The command syntax is identical to Cisco IOS's 'show feature' but the output format differs slightly; IOS shows a simpler list without instance numbers. On IOS, many features are enabled by default, so 'show feature' is less critical. On NX-OS, it is essential.
In NX-OS, the 'feature' command is used to enable a feature globally, and 'no feature <name>' disables it. Some features require a reload to take effect (e.g., 'feature interface-vlan' on some platforms). The 'show feature' command reflects the current state after any pending reloads. For licensing, NX-OS uses a grace period (typically 120 days) for unlicensed features; after that, the feature is disabled. The 'show feature' output will show 'unlicensed' during the grace period but the feature may still be enabled. After the grace period expires, the state changes to 'disabled' automatically.
Equivalent commands on other platforms: On Cisco IOS, 'show feature' exists but is less detailed. On Arista EOS, 'show feature' shows similar information. On Juniper Junos, 'show system license' and 'show configuration | display set | match feature' are used. Understanding these differences helps multi-vendor engineers adapt quickly.
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